Newcastle United are constantly seeking to strengthen at youth level
Newcastle United training ground and academy
Newcastle United's scouting missions north of the border appear to be paying off with the Magpies adding to their increasingly impressive youth recruitment with more additions at academy level.
Newcastle have won the race for 16-year-old winger Alfie Hutchison, who will arrive from Scottish Premiership side Rangers in the coming weeks, after beating a host of other sides to his signature. The teen has been playing three age groups higher in Scotland and has been tipped for future stardom.
Hutchison left Hearts for Rangers last summer, becoming an Adidas athlete in the process. He will be thrust into United's youth ranks to assess which age group he should predominantly be featuring for.
Another Rangers talent, in the form of Oliver Goodbrand, has also been pursued in recent months. The 16-year-old is a left-sided defender who has captained Scotland at youth level and impressed in the youth ranks at Ibrox.
One additional deal Newcastle had also sought to conclude was the capture of Hearts striker, James Wilson. The 18-year-old forward became Scotland's youngest ever international earlier this year, attracting interest from the Premier League.
Instead, Wilson will remain at the Edinburgh outfit after deciding to snub English offers in favour of working with new Hearts boss Derek McInnes for the upcoming campaign.
The moves in question are a timely reminder of just how much Newcastle have dramatically increased their recruitment resources in recent years, with a distinct focus on luring the best and brightest talent from around the UK and abroad. A deal for Malaga attacker Antonio Cordero was concluded recently, while the likes of Miodrag Pivas, Baran Yildiz and Vakhtang Salia have been wrapped up in the last 12 months.
Closer to home, United have signed the likes of Leo Shahar from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Trevan Sanusi from Birmingham, Manchester City's Alfie Harrison and Blackburn Rovers' Rory Finneran. “Scouting and recruiting emerging talent is an essential part of building a sustainable future, particularly within the current PSR framework, so the market is fiercely competitive," outgoing sporting director Paul Mitchell said recently.
“We continue to scout extensively, both domestically and overseas, with a view to securing players who can come through our talent pathway and, ideally, become part of the first team in future. We look forward to working with Vakhtang and wish him every success during his remaining time with Dinamo Tbilisi.”
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